Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

' R". M. SHAFI'E'R. THILL COUPLING. v No. 499,475. Patented June 13, 1893.

I z'izwesses 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' RICHARD M. SHAFFER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK EHLEN, OF SAME PLACE, AND WM. F. BEASLEY, OF OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,475, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed November 28, 1892- Serial No. 453,383- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Thin-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a construction in thill couplings, whereby the the number of parts may be reduced thereby reducing the liability of breakage or loss to a minimum, and a coupling constructed that will firmly hold the shafts without rattling, and which will, at the same time, permit the ready removal of the shafts when desired, and

for these purposes my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by similar lettersz-Figure 1, is a side elevation of a thill coupling, constructed in accordance with this invention, the parts being shown separated. Fig. 2, is a plan View thereof. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal central section on line to, x of Fig. 2.

The yoke A, has the threaded extensions B, upon the lower ends of each of its vertical members 0, which rest upon opposite sides of the forward axle D, the yoke being held in place by the bridge piece E, which passes beneath the said axle and is slipped on the extensions B, where it is clamped by the nuts F, which are screwed on the said extensions. An ear G, projects forwardly from each side of the forward vertical member C, it being by preference formed integral therewith, each of the said ears having a slot H, the lower part of which is vertical andis open at its bottom, while the upper part of the slot is inclined forwardly, an arm I, formed from thelower forward part of the ear G, being below the pocket thus formed, the slots and pockets in the opposite ears being opposite to each other.

Within the vertical longitudinal recess J,

between the two ears, a block K, is adapted to slide vertically, it being held in place and guided by a pin L, having its opposite ends contained in the opposite ears G, and having its central portion passing through the vertical slot M, in the block, a vertical aperture N, beingbored upwardly from the lower end of the tail 0, of the block, through the central portion of the slot M, in which aperture a spring P, is contained under compression, its upper-and lower ends bearing upon the pin L, and upon the pin Q, which has its ends contained in the said tail 0, and passes through the lower partof the aperture,whereby the block is constantly pressed down within the recess J. The block has its lower forward portion cut away, leaving the tail 0, at its rear end, and the forwardly projecting nose R, the slightly inclined forward face of the former, and the lower faces of the latter being united by the curved portion S, while the lower end of the tail is beveled as at T. The strap U, which is secured to the shaft has the cheeksV, thereon asufficient distance apart to permit them to slip upon the outside of the ears, the cheeks being united by the bolt W, which has its opposite ends contained therein.

When the coupling is in use the opposite cheeks V, are upon the outside of the opposite ears G, while the bolt W, passes through the pockets formed by the ends of the slots H, and is held from moving backwardly therein, and thus out of the slots, by the forward face of the block which bears upon the central portion, and which being shoved down by the spring P, takes up any slack that may exist, and at the same time locks the parts to gether. To disconnect the coupling the block is raised until the lower inclined face of the tail piece is flush with or above the inclined portion of the slot, when upon depressing the front of the strap U the bolt W, will drop rearwardly and downwardly out of its receiving slots. To connect the parts the cheeks V, are brought under the ears G, and are pressed upwardly, the bolt W, upon the lower face of the tail 0, of the block, and lifting the latter until it is sufficiently high to permit the bolt to slide with the pockets formed by the ends of the slots II, after which the spring P, will snap the block back into place, as before de scribed.

As will be seen from the drawings the distance from the rear face of the arm I, to the front faces of the ears is such as to prevent the withdrawal of the bolt W from the slots H until the front end of the strap U is depressed, and the strap shoved backward, and an accidental uncoupling of the parts when in use is thus prevented, and that the parts themselves may be inverted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with oppositely placed ears having upwardly and forwardly inclined slots therein, of a vertically slotted block contained between the said ears and provided with a tail piece having an inclined forward face, a pin having its ends secured to the said ears, and passing through the said slot, a spring contained within the said slot and bearing on the said pin, and a bolt adapted to be locked within the said slots by the said block, substantially as described.

2. The combination with oppositely placed ears having upwardly and forwardly inclined slots therein, of a vertically slotted block con tained between the said ears and provided with a tail piece having an inclined forward face and a lower beveled face, a pin having its ends secured to the said ears and passing through the said slot, a spring contained within the said slot and bearing on the said pin, and a bolt adapted to be locked within the said slots by the said block, substantially as described.

3. The combination with oppositely placed ears having upwardly and forwardly inclined slots therein, of a vertically slotted block contained between the said ears, and provided with a tail piece having an inclined forward face and a lower beveled face, the said tail piece being apertured from its bottom through the center of the said slot, a pin projecting through the lower end of the said aperture, a pin having its ends secured to the said ears passing through the said slot, a spring contained in the said aperture and having its 0pposite ends bearing on the said pins, cheeks adapted to rest upon the outside of the said ears, and a bolt connecting the said cheeks, and adapted to be locked inthe said slots by the said block, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD M. SI-IAFFER.

WVitnesses:

LAURA K. JONES, WM. H. .I ONES. 

